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Singapore stunner: Hamilton’s Saturday rocked by red-flag probe

Singapore FP3: Hamilton under investigation for alleged red‑flag breach after Lawson crash

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton has been summoned to the stewards over a potential red‑flag infringement in final practice at the Singapore Grand Prix, putting an unwelcome asterisk on his build‑up to qualifying around Marina Bay.

The session was halted when Liam Lawson clouted the wall and triggered a red flag. Not long after the restart, Race Control noted a possible breach by Hamilton and referred it to the stewards for a full look once FP3 wrapped.

That’s standard procedure, but the timing isn’t ideal. At Singapore, Saturday is everything: track evolution is steep, margins are tiny, and any grid penalty or reprimand that nudges you out of sequence can ruin a night.

The alleged infringement will come down to the usual checklist under red-flag conditions: significant speed reduction, adherence to the delta, no overtaking, and a visibly cautious approach through the sector. Expect the stewards to pore over throttle traces, GPS, and sector data before deciding whether there’s anything more than a note in the logbook.

If the panel finds a breach, the consequences range from a reprimand to a grid drop, depending on severity and precedent. It’s not the kind of roulette Hamilton or Ferrari will want to play on a street circuit that punishes even a brushed kerb.

Context matters here. This is Hamilton’s first Singapore weekend in red, and Ferrari’s Saturday rhythm has been a major priority as the team looks to convert one-lap promise into clean Sundays. Hamilton’s been typically industrious through practice, exploring the limit on a track that tightens with every run. A procedural misstep would be a needless complication.

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We’ve seen how unforgiving Singapore can be with this stuff. The stewards tend to be brisk and precise; if they believe a driver hasn’t treated the red flag with the appropriate caution, they rarely hesitate. On the flip side, if telemetry shows a lift, adherence to delta, and no gain, these things can blow over quickly.

There’s no suggestion of damage or a mechanical issue on Hamilton’s side, so any disruption is likely to be administrative rather than technical. For Ferrari, the bigger picture is clear: get both cars into Q3 with clean banker laps, keep a second set of softs for the money runs, and stay out of the clerk’s office.

As for Lawson, his crash was the sort that reminds everyone why Singapore demands respect. The grip comes to you, the walls don’t. He’ll reset and regroup for qualifying if the car can be turned around in time.

What to watch next:
– Stewards’ decision timing: Expect a call before qualifying.
– Possible outcomes: No further action, a reprimand, or a grid penalty if the breach is deemed significant.
– Ferrari’s plan B: If there’s a grid hit, watch for alternative tire offsets and an aggressive undercut window on Sunday.

We’ll update with the stewards’ verdict and any impact on Hamilton’s starting slot as soon as the decision lands. For now, the seven-time champion’s Saturday has a little extra edge to it — not that he’s ever needed help finding that around Marina Bay.

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